Meet Mushroom Creative House's Liam Pethick

Join us for a new monthly series where we will catch up with a different member of the Mushroom family and learn more about their role, how they got here, what their day-to-day involves and more.

What is Mushroom Creative House?

Is it too cheesy to say family? Lol. But more seriously we’re a hybrid of a production house and creative agency who create unforgettable content, entertainment, brand building and partnerships.

How would you describe your role to someone who didn’t know what you do?

Whilst my title is technically ‘Video Producer’, I’m generally working across a number of stages of video production from concepts and pre-prod, to filming, editing, animating, colour grading, etc. It’s good to try have a general understanding of each step of the process, even if it’s just allowing you to give better direction or feedback to specialised crew.

Tell us your story. How did you get to your current role at Mushroom Creative House?

VERY humble beginnings shooting house parties and nightclubs… what a time! Eventually I started shooting gigs for publications which helped me build up a bit of a live music folio. Then one day I got hit up by a manager here at Mushroom (Thanks scabs!) to shoot one of the DJ’s on the RNB Fridays Live Tour. That was basically where my journey at Mushroom started as I got to meet a lot of the team on that tour and from there, started having conversations with a few people and doing bits and pieces of freelance for Mushroom Creative House. I look back on some of that work and grimace, but I guess they liked my attitude because next thing I know they offered me a full-time role. 4 years later and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.

What does your day-to-day entail?

We do such a broad range of work here at Mushroom Creative House so the day-to-day can really vary… Time spent in the office generally consists of a lot of editing, concepting, and pre-production, all of which need a lot of time allocated to ensure a project has a successful outcome. In terms of our shoots, we can find ourselves heading out all over the state and sometimes the country, often directing, filming and photographing a variety of work. THE DREAM!

What is the best thing about working at Mushroom Creative House?

Hands down, the team. It was one of the first things that stood out to me when I started and I’m still in awe of the shared passion and energy. Everyone is beyond committed to achieving the best outcome possible and will continuously roll up their sleeves and put on any hat necessary to make that happen. Plus the group chat constantly has me in stitches so that’s a win. It really is an absolute pleasure to be a part of. Some of the best people you’ll ever meet!

Any tips on how to thrive as a creative?

I absolutely hate to admit it, but you’ve got to have some sort of balance in your life and realise that burning out is definitely a thing. That balance can be different for everyone, but it’s important to find a level that works for you. I can first hand say it makes a huge difference when it comes to your ability to both concept and execute.

What has been a major highlight of your career so far?

Geee, it’s very hard to say but I really can’t go past ‘The Sound’. I mean I got a tattoo for it so it’d want to be a highlight! But in all honesty, working at such an intense pace with such a tight-knit team, to some of the most ridiculous deadlines that I didn’t even think were possible, there’s no other rush like it! I’m also incredibly proud of what the team achieved; 217 shoots with 208 artists across 166 locations, doesn’t sound too shabby. As Susan Heymann put it “if you told me you guys were going to film a performance on the moon tomorrow, I’d believe you”. I’ll definitely take that feedback.

What would you like to see Mushroom Creative House achieve in the next five years?

Big question… Whilst I’ve only been here for 4 years, it’s been amazing to see the exponential growth in that short time alone. It feels like we’re all on the edge of our seat, hanging on for dear life! I suppose in the next 5 years I’d personally like to see us become THE industry go-to for all live content capture and music videos, but on a larger scale. Full-scale live performance TV specials, long-form tour documentaries and bespoke performance pieces are all on the list. Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever – A Love Letter To Los Angeles” that she did with Disney is a great example.

Lastly, if someone was looking to apply for a role with MCH, what qualities do you think would make them a good fit?

Work ethic and attitude would 100% be at the top of the list in my opinion. I feel if those things are right, the technical ability/processes can always be learned.